A Portland man has received a 15-year prison sentence for sextortion involving a minor and producing child sexual abuse material. Aaron Eugene Bjarnason, aged 25, was ordered today in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim to serve 180 months, followed by a decade under supervision, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office.
Using his Instagram, Bjarnason had messaged a minor in May 2022, seeking images in exchange for money. Displaying a screenshot of his bank account for credibility, he pressured the victim with monetary promises. Bjarnason, becoming more aggressive over time, threatened to distribute the images among the victim's father and peers unless his demands were met. After directing the minor to send explicit content, the FBI and local sheriff's office collected enough evidence for prosecution.
As a part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative aiming to crack down on child exploitation, this case comes to a close. The initiative, since its 2006 launch, coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to locate and punish Internet predators and rescue victims. Bjarnason's conviction contributes to the demonstrated efficacy of a unified stance against the exploitation of the innocent, highlighted by the initiative's resource consolidation.
The collaborative investigation by the Carver County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI led to the discovery and subsequent conviction of Bjarnason, who pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on April 2, 2024. Assisting with the case, U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead successfully prosecuted, underscoring the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to confront the individuals who prey on the vulnerable, according to the Department of Justice's announcement.
